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How can I make the exterior look less dated? Pls help!!!

7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago

We recently bought the Tudor style home. It's 35 yrs old & a lovely house but has a slightly dated look. What changes can I make on the exterior to make it look less dated and give it more romantic castle look.. ;-) It needs a little something and i can't put my finger on it! Any help is hugely appreciated! Thanks guys!!


Comments (38)

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    I agree there's something off but it is hard to pinpoint.

    I think the trim color might be throwing everything off. It looks like a dark gray, but with that brown (?) roof and red brick, it doesn't quite go. I think if you change the trim to something in a warm tone it will look much better

    kate greene thanked Sina Sadeddin Architectural Design
  • 7 years ago

    I think I might change the turned wood railing out for something in wrought iron too, although that's not the factor you're looking for right now.

    kate greene thanked acm
  • 7 years ago

    I'm not sure about making it a castle. It looks like a good home. I don't think the bright white stucco color looks good against the brick - it's too clean of a color with your roof and brick. If you painted out the stucco more of a cream color that will help it tie in the brick and look more cohesive.

    I agree with acm about changing out the porch railing.


    The Japanese Maple near your front driveway is stunning.

    kate greene thanked mmilos
  • 7 years ago

    I would consider painting the garage doors the same color as your dark trim. Do you know the brand/color name/number of the paints currently on the house? Is the brick slightly pinkish or red-brown or is it just my monitor?

    kate greene thanked Bette P
  • 7 years ago

    I'm not sure of the color name but the brick is light-faded tinge of brown brick look. The trim is gray..


  • 7 years ago

    Dark brown trim. When you replace the roof, go darker.

    kate greene thanked Milly Rey
  • 7 years ago

    Ivy

    kate greene thanked kitasei
  • 7 years ago

    One of the first things i def want to change is the Gray pickets to white and pillars as well. what do you guys think?

  • 7 years ago

    In the second pic above, what are my options to do to the cement floor..should it be sone or brick or any other material?


  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Resurfacing the porch floor would be a good idea! Can you find facer brick to match your house? Or if not, a plain stone would be great. Be careful to not introduce too much contrast with what you already have.

    BTW, your porch swing is cute, but may be a bit too informal for this handsome house.

    kate greene thanked littlebug zone 5 Missouri
  • 7 years ago

    You could always try having the cement stained, I had mine done professionally & it turned out great. Or you can have overlays (I don't know technical term :) ) over cement, in a variety of patterns & colors, a neighbor did that, you'd never guess there was an old cement patio underneath it. I agree trim color is "off". I'd forget trying to make it look like a castle, I'd leave that to the pros @ Disney.

    kate greene thanked K Laurence
  • 7 years ago

    @k Laurence, i didn't know that staining was a possibility, by any chance do you have a picture that you would like to share. it would give me an idea. what kind of professional company would I be looking for if i have to get my patio stained? Thank you so much everyone for all your feedbacks! <3


  • 7 years ago

    Hi... sorry can't send a pic, I'm away on vacation right now, I don't know where you live, however, I would just Google concrete stain contractors or concrete refinishers in your area. There are many where I live ( O C So California).

    kate greene thanked K Laurence
  • 7 years ago

    Thanks i live in northern VA/DC metro area! Thank you so much!!!


  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Real Tudors, and their early 20th c. American revivals, used casement windows, not 6/6 double hung.

    The angled roof over the far bay is losing the argument with the gable it occupies.

    The small-scale spindled porch rail; the crown-trimmed square posts- not exactly right for the style, but the gray trim color is even less helpful.

    Keystones? what? no.



    kate greene thanked Sombreuil
  • 7 years ago

    Study Tudor style and see what you can improve to fit that footprint.

    A Tudor castle is out of the question but..

    You can unify your color

    Change the roof line on the bay over the garage
    Try a Tudor double front door
    Upgrade the lanterns to larger, Tudor style ones, modify columns and railing to a more Tudor style. Landscape formally as at the castle above.


    kate greene thanked decoenthusiaste
  • 7 years ago

    Thank you sooo much! Castle look is just a joke..I just meant that a little softer romantic look to go with Tudor style..great pictures to go by..thanks

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Good evening. Washing the façade under pressure, a little paint refreshing, lawn mowing, caring for the flower beds - all this can radically change the look of the house. If you are ready to spend one day for renovation, paint the front door, put in front of her plants in pots or plant shrubs. Even such simple things as flowers or a new carpet in front of the door will refresh the look of the house. Pay attention to architectural details. Windows, ornaments around windows and doors, various types of decoration - all this affects the appearance of the house. And such details as quality windows and pipes - also make living in the house more comfortable and economical. Renovate the roof of the building. It is often forgotten, but if the roof looks old, it negatively affects the whole appearance of the house.

    kate greene thanked Milcasa
  • 7 years ago

    You have a beautiful home that is being pulled down by the gray trim. Changing that will have a huge impact!

    kate greene thanked grapefruit1_ar
  • 7 years ago

    @milcasa Thank you for such great ideas, they are all on my to do list. Any changes I make to the front of the house will have to be done after I get HOA permission :) What color would you recommend for the door if you had to..


  • 7 years ago

    @grapefruit what color trim would you recommend?

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Completely remove porch railing...

    paint all trim in BM Iron Mountain

    paint white siding in SW Natural choice

    I would hire a electrician to bring lighting to both sides of front door.

    kate greene thanked Home Interiors with Ease
  • 7 years ago

    I think that the trim color needs to be more brown. Maybe to match the gutters? Hopefully someone could mock up some colors. I do not have a feel for what is " right" in this case, only for what is " wrong" :).

    kate greene thanked grapefruit1_ar
  • 7 years ago

    Thanks guys! Any software where I can upload pictures and then change colors?

  • 7 years ago

    @home interiors with ease: The lights on either side of the door inside the arch or on the outside wall? I'm a little confused..thank you for great feedback!

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Hi Kate

    on the outside arched brick wall...it is just crying out for lights!:) you have the pendants for inside porch lighting already..so perfect combination of exterior lighting...such a pretty home..just needs some more Rich dramatic paint tones...you roof to me looks taupe/gray not brown..I'm I correct?

    kate greene thanked Home Interiors with Ease
  • 7 years ago

    That is a gorgeous house already, great shape and wonderful brick. I agree with other commenters that a few details like 6 over 6 windows and porch rail aren't the best choices, so definitely remove rail. (You could replace windows too if you have $40k burning a hole in your pocket. :-) ) Gable/bay slope mismatch can be addressed by painting that whole gable the trim color...which needs to be darker. Sconces on arch will look great, and I'd work in some landscape roses too.

    kate greene thanked qam999
  • PRO
    7 years ago

    I'd paint the brick. It's just a very dated color. Paint it either a light gray or white. And get rid of the double front door.

    kate greene thanked Anglophilia
  • 7 years ago

    @Anglophilia: Its a single door..if i had to change the color of the door, what can i change to? Thanks!


  • 7 years ago

    This color sceme was on the Behr website. Something similar might work with Mineral on the body and Coconut Shell on the trim. The trim color on your house seems too grey, but a similar color with more brown will look nice.

    Ditto on the lights, railings and porch color. Beautiful house

    !

    kate greene thanked beanie1922
  • PRO
    7 years ago

    The color of the door is not the problem. It's the very dated 1980's-90's style. If you can afford to replace it with a classic door and classic side windows, do so. Otherwise, leave it as it is so you aren't drawing attention to it.

    kate greene thanked Anglophilia
  • 7 years ago

    I would look at something like Superior Bronze


    for the trim and an off white like the Natural Choice suggested above. The gray is too cool for the brick color. Staining the concrete is a nice option and is easily done. I wouldn't add a third pattern with a stone on the porch. I agree that removing the railing altogether is your best option.

    kate greene thanked katinparadise
  • PRO
    7 years ago

    BM Iron Mountain is actually a warm deep gray....

    kate greene thanked Home Interiors with Ease
  • 7 years ago

    Thank you all for such great suggestions! Mineral, coconut shell, iron mountain & superior bronze are all great selections. i'll def consider them.. @Home interiors with ease: Would you pls share the source for the light fixture picture you shared with me. I simply loved the look!

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Hello. In my opinion, you have a smart house, and it does not look dated. You do not need to change anything.

  • 7 years ago

    You have a beautiful Tudor style home. I would change out the windows to Tudor style and definitely replace the front door/two sidelights with a natural or stained wood double door. The trim color including painting the garage doors needs to be darker brown.

  • 7 years ago

    Another beautiful house that fell into the gray trap. Get rid of the gray and the house will be fine. Choose one of the colors out of the bigger color scheme of littlebug.

    The white is too white too. A tone of light beige will accommodate the walls to the brick.

    A truly dark red or dark green might be nice accent colors, but don't overdo it. Maybe just the door and the swing (which can stay in my opinion, but the pillows are too modern).

    Besides that: do people not build and buy such houses for the 'dated' look? It is supposed to look like from another era. So do not update, but preserve the look.

    The rest of the house is beautiful as it is. It doesn't have to be all Tudor style, per se. Have you seen the movie 'pride or prejudice'. That house also has such a wooden railing. In my opinion your door and windows look beautiful too. Some agents of styles tend to become to stringent.

    So: paint will do a marvelous job on an already lovely house.